A Day in the Life of a Drayage Driver at the Ports of New York and New Jersey!

A Day in the Life of a Drayage Driver at the Ports of New York and New Jersey

The sun is just beginning to rise over the skyline of New York City as Carlos, a seasoned drayage driver, starts his day. He’s worked in the trucking and logistics industry for over a decade, but his current gig operating out of the Ports of New York and New Jersey still keeps him on his toes. It's a job that requires precision, patience, and a lot of endurance—especially when you're hauling containers in and out of one of the busiest port complexes in the world.

5:00 AM – Morning Prep

Carlos pulls his truck into the lot near the port, the hum of the city waking up around him. He checks in with dispatch via his phone, confirming the day’s route and any specific details about the shipments he’s scheduled to pick up or drop off. Today, he’s got a few containers to move: some headed out to warehouses in New Jersey, others destined for export.

Before getting into the truck, Carlos does a quick pre-trip inspection. He checks his tires, ensures his load securement is intact, and makes sure all his paperwork is in order. The last thing he needs is a missed detail that could cause a delay at the port or, worse, lead to safety issues. He knows that staying within his Hours of Service (HOS) regulations is crucial, and he has to keep a close eye on the clock. With the strict rules in place, once he reaches his maximum driving hours, he’ll be forced to pull over and rest, no matter how much work is left to do.

By 5:30 AM, Carlos is behind the wheel, pulling out of the lot and heading toward Port Newark—the heart of the bustling Ports of New York and New Jersey complex. The morning traffic is light, as most of the commuters haven’t fully hit the road yet, giving him a bit of breathing room.

6:00 AM – Arriving at the Port

As Carlos approaches the port entrance, the first signs of the day's hustle and bustle are becoming visible. Trucks line up, waiting to enter the terminals, and the unmistakable sound of cranes moving containers can be heard in the distance. He’s no stranger to the challenges of navigating this area. Tight lanes, security checks, and the constant flow of heavy equipment all make the port a complex place to operate.

Carlos pulls up to the gate, where a port security officer checks his identification and the details of his load. He hands over his paperwork and is quickly cleared for entry. As he drives through the maze of containers and equipment, he’s constantly scanning for signs, barriers, and other trucks. It’s a delicate dance of logistics. But today, there’s an added challenge: empty container returns.

7:00 AM – Loading the Container and the Empty Return Problem

At his designated terminal, Carlos backs his truck into a spot to pick up a loaded container that’s ready for delivery. The noise of cranes lifting containers is deafening, but he’s used to it. He watches as the giant crane grabs the container off the stack and lowers it onto his chassis.

But before he can pull away, his dispatcher calls. “Carlos, there’s a change in your schedule. You’ll need to head back to the empty yard to return the container before moving forward with the next load. The apportionment system is restricting returns in the export section again, and the slots are full.”

Carlos sighs, understanding the new headache. The apportionment system is a process used by the port to manage the flow of containers—both full and empty. Due to the system’s restrictions, only a set number of containers are allowed to be returned at a given time, creating a bottleneck. The process works to avoid congestion, but the restrictions can delay drivers, who are already on tight schedules.

Carlos has already experienced this multiple times this week. The system limits the number of empty containers that can be returned in certain time slots. And today, he’s hit with a restriction that forces him to wait in line for a slot. If he doesn't get one, it means his truck will remain idle while other drivers compete for space in an already cramped yard.

9:00 AM – Delays and the Impact of the Apportionment System

After a series of back-and-forth calls with dispatch and some frustrating waiting in line, Carlos finally reaches the empty container yard. The yard is packed. Drivers are frustrated, and tempers are starting to flare. There’s just not enough space for everyone to return their containers, and the apportionment restrictions are making the situation worse.

Carlos waits patiently, but the clock is ticking. Each minute spent here is a delay that impacts his entire day’s schedule. And with the port being so backed up, returning the container becomes a game of timing—waiting for an empty slot to become available while trying to avoid missing other pickups. He checks his E-logbook, which tracks his hours in real time. The system reminds him that he’s steadily approaching his driving limits for the day.

Carlos knows that he has only 11 hours of driving time per day and must stop if he reaches that limit—there's no room for negotiation. The HOS regulations are strict for a reason: to ensure safety on the road. If he exceeds his hours, he risks fines, suspension, or worse—an accident. These rules keep the roads safer, but they also add pressure. If he doesn’t get his container returned quickly, he won’t have enough time to finish the day’s work.

His 14-hour duty window is ticking down, meaning the clock is also running out on the time he can spend working. There are only so many hours he can legally spend on the road, and missing that window means he’ll have to shut down, regardless of how much work is left. It’s a balancing act.

11:00 AM – On the Road Again

Finally, after nearly two hours of waiting, Carlos is able to return the empty container. He can now proceed with his next scheduled pickup. But the damage has been done. His productivity for the day has taken a hit. Now, instead of moving containers on time, he’s now playing catch-up.

Back on the road, Carlos heads toward a warehouse in Elizabeth, NJ, but the delay from the apportionment system has disrupted his entire flow. When he arrives, he’s faced with another challenge. The warehouse is busy, and unloading takes longer than expected, pushing him further behind schedule.

But as much as he wants to get everything done, he keeps a mental check on his HOS clock. His driving hours are limited, and he has to make sure he stays within the legal limits to avoid putting himself and others at risk. The last thing Carlos wants is to end his shift prematurely, having to sit idle in the yard because he exceeded his hours.

1:00 PM – Struggling with the Flow of Containers

By the time Carlos makes his next drop-off, he’s exhausted. The continual delays caused by empty container returns, limited apportionment slots, and backed-up facilities have taken their toll. Every step of his day has been impacted by the inefficiencies at the port.

The apportionment system, designed to keep the port functioning smoothly, has instead become a point of contention, slowing down drayage drivers like Carlos. The restricted returns are exacerbating the already overwhelming congestion at the terminals, leading to frustrated drivers and missed deadlines.

Carlos knows that this is becoming the new normal. It’s not just today, but every day now, with drivers forced to waste hours waiting in line and dealing with the backlog of containers. And with more ships arriving every day, the issue is only growing. But with his HOS regulations in mind, Carlos knows that there’s only so much he can do.

4:00 PM – Final Pickup and Heading Home

After a long, challenging day, Carlos finally makes his last pickup and returns the empty container. His hours are extended, and he’s not making as many deliveries as he should have. The inefficiency of the apportionment system and the sheer volume of containers moving through the port have made it nearly impossible for him to stay on schedule.

His E-logbook flashes a reminder that he’s nearing the end of his legal driving window, and Carlos knows it’s time to wrap up. Even though he’s frustrated by the delays, he pulls over at a safe spot to complete the required rest, ensuring that he stays within the HOS guidelines. If he keeps pushing beyond his hours, he could face serious consequences, including fines or even loss of his driving license.

As he exits the port and heads home, Carlos reflects on how much the current logistics situation has changed. In the past, a day like today would have been a rare occurrence, but now, it's all too common. The apportionment system and empty return issue are major barriers to his productivity, and he knows it’s only a matter of time before the frustrations of his fellow drivers spill over into more serious concerns. But for now, he’s just glad the day is over.

6:00 PM – The Toll on Family and Pay

By the time Carlos gets home, it’s well into the evening. His wife, Maria, is waiting with their two kids. They’ve been patient, but Carlos can see the strain in their eyes. The dinner table is quieter than usual. Maria asks how his day went, and Carlos knows the answer all too well.

It’s been a rough week, and the mounting delays and apportionment restrictions are eating into his pay. His overtime isn’t as reliable anymore, and with so many hours lost to waiting in line or getting stuck in traffic around the port, his weekly take-home is getting smaller and smaller.

Maria looks at him, concerned. "Carlos, we’ve been through a lot, but this job... it’s taking a toll on you. On us. Are you sure you want to keep doing this? The long hours, the stress—it's affecting the kids too. You’re not home enough."

Carlos knows she’s right. He’s been missing family time, arriving home too late to help with homework or even share a meal with his family. He used to love the stability of his job, the freedom of the open road. But now, the constant stress and long days are affecting everything. And as his paychecks shrink, he’s starting to question if it’s worth it anymore.

His thoughts begin to drift toward leaving the pier work behind. The restrictions, the delays, the apportionment system—it’s all too much. The thought of finding something more predictable, something that allows him to spend more time with his family, is starting to sound appealing.

But it’s not an easy decision. Carlos has built a career in drayage. The ports have been his livelihood for years. He knows the work, the people, and the rhythm of the daily grind. But with each passing day, the costs of sticking with it—emotionally, financially, and physically—are beginning to outweigh the benefits.

He stares at his family, feeling torn. For now, he decides to push those thoughts aside. Tomorrow is another day, but in the back of his mind, Carlos knows that this cycle can’t continue forever. The pressure is building, and a change might be closer than he thinks.

By 7:00 PM, Carlos is sitting on the couch, the weight of the day hanging heavily on his shoulders. He looks out the window, lost in thought, wondering if tomorrow will be any different—or if it’s finally time to leave the pier behind.